I stopped reading at the picture. They all looked uncomfortable with the weapons.

They're using shotguns. If they've never fired shotguns before, they might be quite worried as to whether they'll be able to handle the recoil. Many, many people physically cannot, especially 12-gauge recoil.Example.

I remember the first time I shot a 12-gauge shotgun. Ow. That was a big bruise.

My brothers take me shooting when I'm home. Conservative men (in my experience) are very excited to teach women how to safely use guns because it is the best way for a woman to protect herself. Every year, the Brill Area Sportsman's Club has a "Women's Range Day", which is designed to teach women who do not have experience how to safely use a rifle, shotgun, and a small handgun in a female-only environment. I would encourage every woman to do that if she would get the opportunity.

We began by studying the right-wing militia movement of the early 1990s. Our first foray into the subject would have been comical if it hadn’t been so naïve. Our initial attempt to meet local militia members took us to a shooting range in the Bay Area, where we assumed local militia meetings would be held. We went on a Tuesday night, fully expecting the range to be seething with radical political activity. Why else would people congregate at a shooting range, if not to meet other like-minded, potentially dangerous right-wing gun nuts? It never occurred to us that they might be there for the simple enjoyment of target shooting.

It embarrasses me now to recall that trip. We went expecting to find militia members milling around in camouflage gear, holding signs, and handing out radical pamphlets. Needless to say, we didn’t meet anyone during our visit who fit that description.

That's a great video. Wow, some bad form there, ie. lousy instruction, if any.

First time for me with a 12 gauge I ended up with a nice black and blue on my cheek. I've managed to avoid that since.

Here in northern NJ we have a decent skeet shooting range where they supply everything. I've taken 30 or 40 people there, many first timers (most liberals), and we always have a great time. Usually, we start the ladies with a 20 gauge. Those who decide to just watch almost always say they wish they'd joined in.

I went to one "shotgun" wedding, where the wedding was on Saturday, and Sunday morning about 20 of us went down to the range to shoot skeet. Memorable.

This is what Mogget was talking about. The concept behind the story may or may not have some sort of kernel of truth to it - I've gone trap shooting with some pretty left-wing partisan Northeastern Democratic types - but the article as researched and presented apparently had massive issues, in that the subjects interviewed are objecting on Gell-Mann Amnesia grounds.

Man, you guys are good. You went straight to the flaw in the comparison. This is what I get from hanging around smart people such as yourselves. I really do admire that. I hope to become as sharp as you.

I have still not received a satisfactory answer to my question why so-called liberals are, de facto, expected to hate guns and oppose gun ownership. Again, aside from bone-headed "It's what our team is supposed to do!" and "Give peace a chance!" reasons, I'd like to know. I suspect, apart from those two answers, many so-called liberals don't actually have a well-considered reason to be against guns in general.

The cure requires valuing intelligence and human life.

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!

OK, now that we've gotten one of the lame, stupid reasons out of the way...

If gun taking worked to stop violence then we would all be in favor it like Obama says we are.

But since it never works at all and only puts the most people possible in danger of being the victims of violence, there is no rational reason to consent to surrender of Americans 2nd Amendment rights.

"I have still not received a satisfactory answer to my question why so-called liberals are, de facto, expected to hate guns and oppose gun ownership."

Palladian, it's really quite simple. Liberals don't trust individuals to make decisions. Not important decisions, anyhow. That's why they never stop pushing to put more decisions into the hands of the government, and leave fewer for individuals. In some cases, down to the level of what size soda you may buy, or whether you can have salt on your fries.

Keeping and bearing arms gives you the power to make the most important decision of all--whether to end a human life. OF COURSE they don't want you to have that kind of responsibility. You can't handle it. Nobody can, except agents of the state...and the elite who run said state, of course. They're better than you.

Guns act as deterrents and force equalizers. They empower individuals to mitigate or prevent involuntary exploitation, up to and including murder, by minority interests, including criminals and corrupt authoritarians.

They would have stopped or impeded the progress of Major Nidal Malik Hasan from slaughtering unarmed soldiers and one soldier's unborn child.

They would have stopped or impeded the progress of Jared Lee Loughner from slaughtering unarmed men, women, and children.

They would have stopped or impeded the progress of James Holmes from slaughtering unarmed people at the movie theater.

They are a means to mitigate risk where, by definition, criminal behavior is not constrained by proscriptive laws, including that exhibited by individuals, cooperatives, and governments.

The individuals, cooperatives, and government agents who pursue the restriction of Americans to be Armed possess ulterior motives which do not coincide with improving our safety. Their policies, in fact, increase risk to law-abiding individuals, while reducing risk to criminals and lowering opportunity costs for commission of crimes.

"Man, you guys are good. You went straight to the flaw in the comparison. This is what I get from hanging around smart people such as yourselves. I really do admire that. I hope to become as sharp as you."

I thought the flaw in the comparison was "Hey, lets do something ridiculous. Let's have an abortion."

But I did understand that a great number of people don't believe that the 2nd Amendment means that citizens should be allowed to have any personal weapons whatsoever, and other people don't think that people have a constitutional right to abort the unborn, no matter their constitutional right to their own person.

After all, the right to have guns, even military type weapons, doesn't give anyone the right to shoot someone with them.